Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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68. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 2 December 2014, in respect of exemptions from local property tax for home owners of pyrite-damaged homes, if a solution to this matter has been reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7586/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I made a commitment to examine the Local Property Tax (LPT) and any impacts on LPT liabilities as a result of property price movements.  In that regard, Dr Don Thornhill has agreed to conduct a review to consider and make recommendations, in the context of property price developments, on what adjustments, if any, might be made to the system to achieve relative stability in LPT payments by liable persons.  Dr Thornhill is a distinguished former public servant who chaired the Inter Departmental Group on the Design of a local property tax in 2012. The review will address a number of other issues concerning the LPT including the relief from LPT for owners of pyrite damaged homes and how the anomalous issue that has arisen in this regard can be resolved satisfactorily. I expect the review by Dr Thornhill will be completed by summer 2015. 

As I advised previously, resolution of the pyrite LPT relief issue may necessitate a change in the relevant provisions of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended) and/or the Finance (Local Property Tax) (Pyrite Exemption) Regulations.  If it is the case that legislative change is required, I will examine with the Revenue Commissioners the possibilities for applying any changes on an administrative basis, in advance of such legislative changes.